Category: Referrals

A Mental Health Care Plan is arranged through your GP. It helps determine whether you’re eligible for Medicare rebates for mental health sessions with a psychologist, social worker, or other eligible mental health professional.

1. Book an appointment with your GP

Make a standard appointment and let the receptionist know it’s for a Mental Health Care Plan. A longer appointment is often helpful.

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2. Talk with your GP about how you’re going

Your GP will ask about what’s been happening for you emotionally, mentally, and in your day-to-day life. You don’t need to prepare anything formal—just describe your current concerns as best you can.

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3. Your GP completes an assessment

The GP may ask a few structured questions or use a brief screening tool to better understand your situation and what kind of support you might need.

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4. A Mental Health Care Plan is created (if appropriate)

If you’re eligible, your GP will write a plan outlining your main concerns and recommended supports. This may include referral to a specific practitioner or service.

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5. You receive a referral

Your GP will provide a referral letter or document. This can usually be sent directly to your chosen clinician or given to you to bring to your appointment.

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6. Book your therapy sessions

Once you have your MHCP and referral, you can book in with your chosen mental health practitioner (such as Pelican Arts).

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7. Review after a set number of sessions

Medicare allows a set number of rebated sessions per calendar year under a MHCP. Your GP will review your plan as needed and may extend or update it if appropriate.

From July to December 2026, Pelican Arts will be offering bulk-billed Medicare appointments for eligible clients referred under a Mental Health Treatment Plan.

As an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, I provide Mental Health Social Work services for people aged 16 years and over using evidence-based Focused Psychological Strategies (FPS), including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based approaches, relaxation strategies, psychoeducation, and skills development.

Some people choose to incorporate art materials into therapy, while others prefer a more traditional talk-based approach. There is no expectation that clients use art in sessions. Therapy is tailored to each person’s needs, interests, and goals, with creative processes available as one of many tools that may support therapeutic work.

Many people know Pelican Arts through my work as a Professionally Registered Art Therapist and are curious about how creative processes fit within Medicare-funded therapy. While Medicare does not fund Art Therapy as a standalone service, creative and art-based processes can be incorporated into Mental Health Social Work treatment where clinically appropriate.

Art materials may be used to support relaxation and mindfulness, develop personal metaphors, engage with therapeutic concepts, identify strengths, explore values and emotions, and practise new coping strategies. The process of artmaking can create space for reflection, noticing patterns, and exploring experiences from different perspectives. It can complement therapies such as ACT by helping people engage experientially with values, thoughts, emotions, and behaviour, rather than simply talking about them.

I have a particular interest in working with culturally and linguistically diverse communities, informed by my previous work as a Community Development Officer with refugee communities. I also welcome referrals from LGBTQIA+ communities and strive to provide a safe, inclusive, and affirming therapeutic environment.

This temporary bulk-billing initiative is intended to improve access to therapy for people who may be experiencing financial barriers. If you would like to know whether you may be eligible, please speak with your GP about a Mental Health Treatment Plan or contact Pelican Arts for further information.